Georgia announces Alabama’s Kirby Smart as new head coach

Once the Georgia Bulldogs settled on Kirby Smart as their next head football coach, they should have become his No. 1 priority.

Alabama defensive back Cyrus Jones told reporters that Smart informed players that he will stay with them during their College Football Playoff run despite being headed to Georgia as their next head coach.

“I’m deeply appreciative…to lead one of the truly great college football programs in the country”, Smart said in a statement.

Kirby Smart was patient, he turned down offers and didn’t actively pursue some head coaching jobs he probably could have gotten and you have to think it was because he was waiting on Georgia.

As a player, Smart was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Georgia, where he was a first team all-SEC pick as a senior. Georgia announced Smart as their Mark Richt replacement on Sunday, but he’s not completely done with Alabama. He played defensive back for the Bulldogs in the mid-’90s and was an administrative assistant on the 1999 coaching staff and the running-back coach in 2005. “Someone who competed at the highest levels on the playing field, was mentored by some of the very best in the game, and understood the specific ingredients necessary to excel at the highest levels of college athletics”. He’s defensive coordinator for the University of Alabama and a former UGA player and coach.

In the meantime, Smart was busy trying to assemble his coaching staff. He is expected to assemble his staff from members of Georgia’s current staff, some that he will bring with him from Alabama and others outside the region. “I just wish he’d get it maybe on the other side of the country where I wouldn’t have to see him except in the national championship game or something like that”, said McElwain.

“We’ve worked together for a long, long time”, he said before pausing for several seconds to collect himself.

Smart is about to step into an entirely new world as a head coach.

The Bulldog nation parted with Mark Richt, its cool-tempered head coach of 15 years, following an ultimately disappointing 9-3 season. I also want to thank Coach Saban.

A person with direct knowledge of the decision said Muschamp will be the Gamecocks next coach and hopefully bring some stability to a program after Steve Spurrier resigned in midseason.

The board approved a six-year contract that will pay him approximately $3.75 million per season, according to a memorandum of understanding released by UGA on Sunday. “He’s really, really appreciated for his hard work and the contribution he’s made to all of the success that we’ve had here”, Saban said. “I couldn’t be happier for someone who is very deserving of an opportunity like this one”.